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Jeter gradually ramping up spring workouts

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TAMPA, Fla. -- On the eve of the Yankees' first Grapefruit League game, Derek Jeter provided a brief update on his progress as he works his way back from offseason surgery on his left ankle.

Jeter has been taking regular batting practice and taking ground balls with the rest of his teammates, but he still has not run the bases. He doesn't know exactly when he'll begin doing so, but he has been running indoors, as he's on a different workout program than the rest of the team.

Jeter has been doing more agility drills and more running, gradually ramping up his workouts the same way he'd do any other year.

"I've been stepping it up every day," Jeter said. "Every day is more and more. I've been increasing the workload since I started."

Jeter has said several times that he will be ready to start come Opening Day, and he repeated that on Friday.

"You have to be smart. ... We've still got close to 40 days," he said. "There's no reason for me to go out there and jump all around and do things that I shouldn't be doing at this particular point."